Education Foundation Mini Grants

The BISD Education Foundation raises money throughout the year from local & corporate sponsors and from their Annual Dinner To Remember Event to sponsor Brenham ISD teacher mini-grant request for their Mini-Grant Program. BISD teachers have the opportunity to write a request for additional educational materials and supplies for their classrooms in the form of a grant. 

Annual proceeds are distributed by the Foundation to the mini-grant recipients every fall during an inner campus surprise announcement. 

The Mini-Grant Program is an effective and rewarding way to celebrate and distribute the Foundation's annual proceeds. 

NOTE: Mini-Grant Applications are only for current Brenham ISD educators. 

Current Brenham ISD Teachers will be able to apply HERE for the opportunity to be one of our 2026-2027 recipients starting July 20th at 8:00 AM. Applications will close August 28th at 4:00 PM. For Questions please email btrahan@brenhamk-12.net

 

Archived Years:

  • The Brenham School Board on Monday accepted multiple donations totaling $300,000.

    Brenham ISD was presented donations of $180,000 from the Brenham ISD Education Foundation for educator mini-grants; $118,500 from Run for the Youth of Washington County, the organization that hosts the Blue Bell Fun Run; and a combined $1,500 from the Washington County Ladies Lions, Brenham Evening Lions and Brenham Noon Lions Clubs to offset any outstanding student meal debt.

    Brenham ISD Chief Communications and Engagement Officer Brooke Trahan, who also serves on the Education Foundation Board of Directors, said this donation brings the foundation’s total disbursements up to over $1 million since it was established in 2004.  Fundraising comes from in-kind donations, teacher contributions, the Dinner to Remember event in April, and Brazos Valley Gives in October.

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  • Community support for Brenham ISD was on full display on Monday, September 17, 2024, as the Brenham School Board accepted donations from several individuals, organizations and businesses.

    Trustees acknowledged the contributions of new flags across the district from WoodmenLife, a cargo trailer for the athletic department from an anonymous donor, a gift of $19,197 to the theatre arts program from the estate of a program supporter, and a donation of $141,000 from the Brenham ISD Education Foundation to go toward mini-grants for classrooms, departments and campuses.

    Education Foundation board member Carl Prihoda said this is the foundation’s largest-ever disbursement to the school district, in part because of the expansion of the “Arts and Appetizers” event this year into “A Dinner to Remember”.  Next year’s event is set for April 10, 2025.

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  • The Brenham ISD Education Foundation is giving back to local classrooms.  On Monday, October 17, 2023, foundation representatives presented Brenham ISD trustees with a check for $96,803.  The donation allows the district to fund mini-grant requests from campuses, departments, grade levels and teachers to further their resources beyond budgeted district funds. 

    Foundation President Kyle Merten said being able to annually raise around $100,000 to put back into local schools is something to be celebrated, and thanked the community for its continued support.

    Merten also announced that, for the first time in the foundation’s history, it is endowing a $25,000 scholarship with the Community Foundation of the Brazos Valley.  Funds will be offered each year to graduating Brenham High School seniors to use for higher education, starting in May. 

    The foundation is one of 20 Washington County organizations participating in the Brazos Valley Gives fundraiser.  Thanks to a $40,000 grant from the Greater Texas Foundation, education foundations like Brenham’s will receive a 2:1 match for the first $2,500 they raise; each participating school district is eligible to receive up to $5,000 in matching funds.

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  • For the 2022-23 school year the Brenham ISD Education Foundation gave out almost $115,000 in mini-grants to Brenham ISD Educators! #WeAreBrenham Thank you to all our community sponsors, and individuals who generous contributions make these grants possible!  


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  • The Foundation has given much consideration regarding the start of the new school year, and all of the new procedures and safety associated with returning. In the best interest of all, the Foundation has determined that they will not have their annual mini-grant program. Instead, they will be donating the revenues from the 2019-2020 school year directly to BISD in support of additional supplies for virtual learning. While we LOVE the excitement of the awards presentation, we believe this is most beneficial to all of BISD during this time. 

     

    The Brenham ISD Education Foundation presented a check to Brenham ISD in the amount of $77,755 at Monday night’s board meeting for what would typically be their annual Mini-Grant Program. With the unforeseen circumstances of the 2020 school year, a unanimous vote by Foundation board members called for a revision for this year’s Mini-Grant program. 

    The Foundation receives thousands of dollars in mini-grant requests from BISD campuses and staff every fall. With a consensus of BISD Administrators, and BISD Education Foundation Board members, a revision to the annual mini-grant program was unanimously considered for approval. Instead of funding individual mini-grants, the revision calls for their annual revenue to fund additional virtual learning equipment. The Foundation gave much consideration regarding this year’s new procedures and safety measures associated with returning in support of their decision.  

    “We recognized that the need for additional virtual learning support was imperative for assisting with the apprehension of this school year. Additional Chromebooks, Chromecarts, and hotspots are necessary for a successful transition into virtual learning, and we agreed that it was in the best interest of the students of BISD to make this revision,” said Kim Weatherby, Education Foundation Secretary. 

    Surpassing last year’s funded amount, Foundation board members are honored to raise an exceeding amount of revenue circling the unanticipated events of 2020. With support from their annual fundraiser, corporate and local sponsors, and BISD employees, the Foundation celebrates the support in the growth of education with their largest contribution to BISD to date. 

    https://kwhi.com/brenham-isd-education-foundation-revises-mini-grant-program/

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  • Since 2004, The Foundation has awarded numerous grants to BISD campuses and teachers. Mini-Grants totaling over $383,282 have provided enriching academic experiences and excellence in education for hundreds of BISD students, with this year being the most ever awarded year at $77,656.

    The 15-year-old Foundation recognizes the commitment of BISD teachers and awards grants up to $5,000 for campuses and up to $500 for teachers. All K-12 teachers and campus administrators are eligible to apply in August of each year. Funding for the 2019 Mini-Grants was provided by the Education Foundation, Grainger Foundation, Blue Bell Creameries, Bluebonnet Electric, BBVA Compass, Citizen’s State Bank, ABM Building Value, Kolkhorst Petroleum, UBEO/Cindy Wells, ACU of Texas, Brenham National Bank, Crain Group, LTY Engineers, Bank of Brenham, Plan North, Mattrezzz Guys, HEB, Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union, Project Control, Steve Perry, VanDyke Rankin Insurance, Rotary Club, BISD CTE Department, BISD Special Education Department, BISD Special Programs Department, and BISD Technology Department. 

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    This year the Education Foundation, along community mini grant sponsors, the Technology Department, Special Education Department and Special Programs Department funded over $53,000 mini grant request!!! Members from the Education Foundation, as well as mini grant sponsors traveled to each campus to announce each recipient in person, and present them with a recipient pennant.  The look on the recipients faces when they were presented with the news was priceless!! The Education Foundation embraced the moment with each recipient and looks forward to future years of funding and presenting mini grants. 

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